In a world of shifting alliances and ideological fractures, India’s foreign policy has undergone a remarkable transformation—from the idealism of non-alignment to the pragmatism of strategic engagement. Henry Kissinger, in World Order (2014), aptly observed: “India’s strategy has historically been to balance rather than to ally, to seek autonomy rather than dependence." This shift reflects the changing global power structures, economic imperatives, and security considerations that define contemporary geopolitics.

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), established in 1961, was India’s strategic response to Cold War bipolarity. It allowed India to maintain sovereignty in decision-making while advocating for decolonisation, disarmament, and economic cooperation. However, as George F Kennan noted in American Diplomacy (1951), “In international affairs, neutrality is often a myth; sooner or later, interests dictate alignments." By the 1990s, India had to adapt to a post-Cold War world, gradually moving toward issue-based partnerships. The 1991 economic reforms integrated India into the global economy, shifting its focus from self-reliance to global trade. The Look East Policy (1991), later renamed the Act East Policy (2014), signalled India’s increasing engagement with ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific.

Economic liberalisation and the post-Cold War realignment forced India to recalibrate its stance, leading to deeper engagement with the US, China, Russia, and emerging economies. The 2005 Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal........

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